Falx cerebelli

Falx cerebelli
Falx cerebelli seen in back portion of skull.
Occipital bone. Inner surface. (Portions "for faulx cerebelli" identified at center left.)
Details
Part of	Meninges
Identifiers
Latin	Falx cerebelli
NeuroNames	ancil-259
TA	A14.1.01.106
FMA	83974
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy []

The falx cerebelli is a small sickle shaped fold of dura mater, projecting forwards into the posterior cerebellar notch as well as projecting into the vallecula of the cerebellum between the two cerebellar hemispheres. The name comes from the Latin word falx meaning "curved blade or scythe" and cerebellum meaning "brain". Its base is attached, above, to the under and back part of the tentorium cerebelli; its posterior margin, to the lower division of the vertical crest on the inner surface of the occipital bone. The falx cerebelli generally lies somewhere between 2.8 and 4.5 cm in length and is approximately 1–2 mm thick.

In its lower portion the falx cerebelli diminishes very rapidly in height and as it descends, it can divide into two smaller folds or diverging limbs, which are lost on the sides of the foramen magnum. Other variations such as duplication, triplication, absence, and fenestration are much less common. As dural venous sinuses are concurrent with the development of dural folds, duplication of the falx cerebelli is usually associated with duplicated occipital sinus. Knowledge of these variations is important in preventing iatrogenic injuries in this region.

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918) This article incorporates text from a public domain edition of Sobotta's Anatomy.